Archive for » September, 2015 «

“5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
and the joy of the godless momentary?
6 Though his loftiness reaches the heavens,
and his head touches the clouds,
7 He perishes forever like his refuse;
those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8 He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him;
even like a vision of the night he is chased away.
9 The eye which saw him sees him no longer,
and his place no longer beholds him.
10 His sons favor the poor, (or seek the favor of the poor)
and his hands give back his wealth.
11 His bones are full of his youthful vigor,
But it lies down with him in the dust.” Job 20:5-11

14 “They say to God, ‘Depart from us!
We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
and what would we gain if we entreat Him?’
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand;
The counsel of the wicked is far from me.” Job 21:14-16

All we have to do is to open a history book or watch old movies on YouTube to see how these verses play out with time. Those who were so powerful, famous and wealthy in their time are now but a memory to those living today. Many left a legacy of good things for the human race, while others, like dictators, violent gangsters and outright evil people, leave scars for generations to come. If we just take a few of these we will see how this works out. How do these names affect your memory. Attila the Hun, Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, Mao Tse-Tung, Ho Chi Minh, Pol Pot, Hirohito, Saddam Hussein and Vladimir Lenin. All these were responsible for multiple thousands of deaths under their violent rule.

Just the name conjures up memories, good or bad, about people who lived in the past. We could add many names to both lists with little thought. We could add a list of famous and wealthy people in recent history and the same effect could be had.

No matter how famous, wealthy or powerful a person was or is today, we will ALL DIE. The only who’s who that makes a difference for eternity is the Book of Life, written by the hand of God Himself.

I am reminded of famous last words many of these folks. Lucille Ball once said, “My god is acting.” Humphrey Bogart, “Goodbye kid. Hurry back.” Buddah, “Work hard to gain your own salvation.” Stan Laurel, “I’d rather be skiing.” Elvis Presley, “I hope I haven’t bored you.” Voltaire, “I am abandoned by God and man. I shall go to hell. Oh, Christ, oh, Jesus Christ.” Thomas Paine, ” I would give worlds, if I had them, if the Age of Reason (an anti-Christian book) had never been published. Oh Lord, help me. Christ, help me. Stay with me. It is hell to be left alone.” Sir Francis Newport, skeptic, to those by his deathbed. “I know I am lost forever! Oh, that fire! Oh, the insufferable pangs of hell!” Severus, Roman Emperor “I have been everything and everything is nothing.” Thomas Carlyle, “I am as good as without hope, a sad old man gazing into the final chasm.” Sir Thomas Scott, Chancellor of England, “Until this moment, I thought there was neither God nor hell … now I know and feel that there is both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just judgment of the Almighty.”

The list could go on and on but I think you get the point. Fame, wealth, power and anything else that could be added to the list, will NEVER prepare a person for death. I would estimate that well over a billion people have genuinely settled this issue at some point in their lives by simply putting their lives in the hands of the One who died on the cross to set them free from the consequences of sinful choices and prepare them for eternity with God in Heaven.

“And he (the Philippian jailer) called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:29-31

This did not mean that his family would be saved based on his faith. They would hear the same good news and be saved themselves, as Romans 10:8-13 says.

“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.’ For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in Him is not disappointed (put to shame).’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for,”Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ” Romans 10:8-13

With this Great News, there is no reason to face death and eternity without knowing God and avoiding eternal judgment.

“Therefore there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

It is amazing to trace the vitriolic hatred toward God’s chosen people, the Jews. It started with Abraham’s sons, through the compromise of God’s plan for marriage, one man, one woman. Sarah got impatient and gave her Egyptian handmaid to Abe so that she could have a child by a surrogate mother. This all backfired when Sarah finally had Isaac. There was great hatred between Sarah and her rival so she told Abe to drive them away. God also promised Hagar twelve princes in her line and so … ZAP… the conflict was born.

This was followed by the slavery of the Jews in Egypt and the first, so-called, final solution by Pharaoh in that he commanded that all the male children be put to death at birth, but God had another plan. He sent Moses back to Egypt to deliver them from slavery and give them their own promised land. Unfortunately, many of the Jews became rebellious toward God’s plan and they ended up wandering in the wilderness for forty years. At the end of this time they encountered some of those who hated and feared them so the battles began. Joshua took over leadership when they entered the land and after many battles they finally were at peace in their homeland.

Because of their blatant rebellion and idolatry, Israel was taken out as slaves once again and they lost their land. While in captivity, a man named Haman was provoked to destroy Israel entirely. Esther 3:13 lays out the plan of destruction

“Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder.”

This came from none other than Israel’s biggest enemy, Satan himself, as have all the attacks throughout history. His goal all along was to wipe Israel off the face of the earth and to prevent the Messiah to be born fulfilling the punishment put on him by God in Genesis 3:15. But, God had another plan since His chosen people would NEVER be wiped out. Deliverance came and the Jews celebrate Purim in remembrance of their great victory over their enemies.

Fast forward to the 1930’s when Germany rose up once again with a plan to take over the world. Ultimately, out of Hitler’s hatred for the Jews, a plan was hatched for the elimination of the Jews completely. They murdered 6,000,000 Jews before the war was over. But, God had another plan and he fulfilled a prophesy by creating a homeland for the Jews in ONE DAY. 1948 was a glorious time for the Jews and yet they came under attack from their enemies living around them, yet, God delivered them from these enemies. This same hatred for the Jews continues to this day as the Islamic people desire to push Israel into the Mediterranean Sea and kill them all. This anti-Semitic hatred is currently spreading around the world, even in our own land.

No matter how many come after Israel, God’s ultimate plan for the Jews will be fulfilled. Even in many Christian colleges, universities and Seminaries there is a vicious teaching being presented which tries to replace the Jews by the church. This teaching is called, Replacement Theology. This teaching has NO base in the Scriptures since the Jew will play a role in God’s plan to finally eliminate ALL who hate the Jews. The 144,000 in Revelation ARE JEWS! They are NOT Jehovah’s Witnesses or any other gentile groups. To desire the destruction of Israel is a losing proposition. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. The promises of God are absolute and NO HUMANS can overthrow His plan. As Scripture says, “They will find themselves fighting against God.”

“38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” Acts 5:38-39 NASB

You see, it is totally futile to stand against God’s chosen people, or Christians, and ultimately you will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire for your efforts. It is simply not worth it! The wise man or woman will recognize that it is wise to support the Jewish people and their homeland. They will still be in the land until Jesus/Yeshua returns for His people, that is, all who have put their trust in Him for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

So, Shalom Aleichem to all who love the people and land of Israel. (Translated: peace be upon you!)

“When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel forsook the law of the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 12:1 NASB

As a result of their unfaithfulness, God allowed Shishak king of Egypt to attack them with 1,200 chariots an 60,000 horsemen. As a result, Shemaiah, the Prophet, came to the king and told him that because he and the people had forsaken Him that He has forsaken them. This resulted in repentance and so follows the result of these events.

“When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some measure of deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak. 8 But they will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

When people know the right thing to do and do not do it, it is blatant sin and God does not tolerate such behavior. Verse nine is the consequences of their sin.

“So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s palace. He took everything; he even took the golden shields which Solomon had made. King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place and committed them to the care of the commanders of the guard who guarded the door of the king’s house.” 2 Chronicles 12:9-10 NASB

How sad! Rehoboam’s father, Solomon, had dedicated the temple not too far in the past with great celebration and worship. It was the richest kingdom in history as a result of God’s blessings on it because the king and the people were faithful to Him. Now, the downward spiral has begun. The gold shields are now replaced by bronze, a much cheaper metal. The treasures of the temple and the king’s palace are all gone. It is interesting to remember Solomon’s words concerning his replacement.

“Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool. Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 NASB

Solomon was in a desperate place when he wrote Ecclesiastes because he too had drifted away from his first love with the LORD, and now he despairs of all that he has amassed through wise labor. It turns out that his son, Rehoboam, was a fool and listened to his friends rather than the wise men of the kingdom and split Judah and Israel for the rest of the time till the period of slavery.

We do not know how our children will turn out once they are grown up. The best we can do is to train them up in the ways of the LORD and once they are on their own they must choose which road that they will travel. This choice DOES make all the difference.

Robert Frost’s poem, A Road Not Taken, is an appropriate line to our topic.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Jesus said that there is a broad way and a narrow way.

“Enter through the arrow gate; for he gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13 NASB

That word destruction is very serious. It is the Greek word apoleia and translates: destruction, utter ruin; hell, one bound to be lost or one destined for hell. (A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament)

“Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 a and c NASB

Looks like murder incorporated makes out well killing and SELLING the innocent babies. Isn’t it time to take OUR money away from them and to tear down this stronghold raised up against the knowledge of God, by taking away their major means of support? They perform a full 80% of all abortions done in the United States. I would love to see a group of women who have had abortions there file a huge lawsuit against them for not informing them about what was done with their unborn babies’ bodies. How can anyone be so heartless as to do what these godless people are doing? God will have the last word on each one who works there when they die, and it will not be pretty! The same went for Hitler’s agents of human depravity. My prayer is that more women, who have any conscience left, will leave them and spill the beans about other atrocities being done by them. I looked up the definition of atrocities, it reads like this: an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury. That hits the center of the target!